There’s less than a week to go before the fourth Lincoln Comedy Festival kicks off and audiences are being urged to take a chance on something new.
There’s a diverse mix of shows in the line-up this year including some of the best performers of musical comedy, sketch, stand-up, dance and improvisation in the UK as well as TV favourites such as Jack Whitehall, Dave Spikey, Arthur Smith, Shappi Khorsandi and Jon Richardson.
A new addition to the festival is Piff the Magic Dragon, a sell-out at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, who is stepping in and replacing Loretta Maine in the 5pm spot on Sunday 9th October.
His show goes something like this: It’s not easy being the last of your species. Piff’s wife has run off with Prince Charming, his brother’s in rehab and health and safety laws have forced Piff to quit the booze (dragons aren’t allowed alcohol: it combusts). And nobody is taking Piff seriously as the Greatest Magic Dragon of All Time.
Festival Director Shaun Almey said: “I really want to emphasise that TV comedians aren’t the only good comedians out there; there are quality acts littered across the comedy circuit performing every night of the week in gigs, big and small, up and down the country.
“I get the feeling these days that a lot of audiences tend to make their judgements based on whether a comedian has been on TV or not as to whether they’re good, which isn’t necessarily the best way of deciding. Sure, there are some great acts on TV, but I can bet that most people would laugh more watching comedy live, often without knowing any of the comedians on the bill, than they would sitting watching a 10-minute spot on TV.
“Tastes obviously vary and one person’s favourite act is another persons most hated, and that’s the way it will always be. The best way to find out which is which is to go to gigs, take a chance and watch them live in person without any preconceptions that it’s ‘the bloke/woman off the telly’ so they must be good.
“We try with the festival to bring a bit of everything to Lincoln so we’ve got straight stand-up, sketch, musical, one-liners, surreal, improvised and observational acts all performing during the week. Yes, some of them are ‘off the telly’ but there’s plenty of other great acts that aren’t – or aren’t just yet – that people will enjoy just as much.”
Audiences can also take advantage of the Suck It and See Weekend programme which is designed to encourage people to watch a few shows at a discounted ticket price on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October.
The festival, which takes place from 5th – 11th October across three different venues in the city, starts with a bang with New Art Club’s Big Bag of Boom at the LPAC. The world’s funniest dance duo is back in Lincoln with their latest piece of genre-defining, dance-up comedy, bringing together the most explosive moments from a decade of award-winning shows.
Other acts lined up for the festival include Sean Walsh, Tom Stade, Andrew Lawrence, Fascinating Aida and The Boy with Tape on His Face.
This year budding local stand-ups will also have the opportunity to sign up for a weekend stand-up course with early alternative comedy scene legend and former resident Comedy Store compère Tony Allen!
Check out www.lovelincoln.co.uk for details of the full line up! For clips of all the acts performing at the festival and ticket details visit www.lincolncomedyfestival.co.uk.
